Yarn winding machine and method



Sept, 19, 1944. v A. w. ARTERTON ET AL ,3

YARN WINDING MACHiNE AND. METHOD Filed Jan. 16, 194:5

5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY W ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1944. A. w. ARTERTON EIAL 5 3 YARN WINDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jan. 16, 1943 F 5 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ATTORNEY Sept; 19, 1944. A. w. ARTERTON ETAL 4 YARN WINDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jan. 16, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORJ' own ATTORNEY A.W. ARTERTCN ETAL 2,358,294 YARN WINDING MACHINE AND METHbD Sept. 19, 1944.

Filed Jan. 16, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Spt. 19, 1944. A. w. ARTERTON rrm. 2,353,294 YARN WINDING MACHINE AND METHOD H 7 Filed Jan. 16, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 END OF PACKAGE I l l} n 9 a I l I l i I I l 4 i V c C MIDDLE V \OF PACKAGE I g l I i a i END i OF PACKAGE I i a I i v 1 v -Z I s l I l l I l i I l I I i i l i 1 l I l C c I K MIDDLE 0F PACKAGE 9a 1 INVENTORS N --C 2 WM ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE 2,358,294 I YARN WINDING MACHINE AND METHOD Alfred W. Arterton and William W. McConnell, Westfield, Mass, assignors to Foster Machine Company, Westfleld, Massachusetts Mass, a corporation of Application January 16, 1943, Serial N0. 472,542

18 Claims.

This invention is a method and apparatus for winding 9. yarn or thread in a package that is smoothly convex from end to end, having its greatest thickness in the middle and tapering gradually and progressively to ,quite thin edges at either end. The package is substantially barrel-shaped and-may conveniently be designated as a barrel wind package.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to produce a package that will allow the unwinding strand to draw freely over the end. In

order to insure this result the strand must not be allowed to cross over or drop down on the ends of the winding package norto be enmeshed between the coils of yarn in the middle portion of the package. In the present invention, which is in contrast to packages with beveled or abruptly curv'ed end and packages with less angularity of the coils in the middle portion, such freedom in unwinding is attained. vWhile the ends of the package are relatively thin, there is no decrease in the total length of yarn in the package, be-

cause the increase of thickness of th package in the middle compensates for the thinness at the ends. The lay or delivery of the thread as wound is such as to bind the end coils without objectionable crossings,

By varying the angularity of the lay or wind of the yarn, continually changing with every stroke in its accelerated and decelerated movement, and varying lengths of the strokes in their accelerated-decelerated movements, the yarn is laid with greater transverse angularity in the middle portion of the package, where the greatest mass of yarn builds up and alsoth yarn is laid with less transverse angularity at the outer end portion of the package, where the least amount of yarn builds up thereby providing amethod where no two successive adjacent strands or coils lie parallel or close together or are interlaced and the strand may be freely drawn off from the package, over the end or otherwise with no drag or catching.

Another object or the invention is to provide mechanism in which the lay of the thread is ef-- fected by progressively varying the length of and changing the location of the stroke of the thread guide and simultaneously varying the speed of the strokes of the thread guide, to produce a, package in which the coils of the thread are The second of these movements is an alternate acceleration and deceleration of the travel of the i thread guide. This is particularly important; more specificallyfthe thread guide, as it moves from one end of the package toward the middle,

is accelerated, while as it moves from the middle .toward the end, it isdecelerated. As it comes 20 back toward the middle, it is accelerated again until it reaches the middle, and then decelerated' toward the other end. These alternate accelerated and decelerated movements, in coopera v tion with a traverse stroke which is continually '25 varied in length and longitudinally displaced, and wherein each stroke is somewhat less than the length of the package, produce the novel barrel wind package of the present invention,

In the area where and when the most yarn would be normally delivered the traversing guide progressively movesdnto and out of that area relatively fast, and conversely, in the area where and when the leastyarn would be normally delivered, the traversing guide-progressively moves into and out of that area relatively slow. Since the timing of each stroke is controlled by the teeth in the ratchet wheel the duration of each stroke is thg =;same,'although the longer strokes travel faster- 3nd the shorter strokes travel slower.

Objects and advantages or the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious hereirom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

gure 1 is a side view of a portion of a wind- .ing machine according to'the present invention;

relative speeds, as is well understood in this art.

path and the thread may be run onto the wind- Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1, looking from th ri ht; i

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view showing the traverse mechanism and its associated cams and showing the thread guide in its middle and left-hand positions;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3,.showing the thread guide in its middle or vertical position; Figure 5 is a similar view showing the thread intermediate the ends of such lever, by a pivot screw I 3.

The auxiliary cam described, there is imparted to the thread guide guide and associated parts in the middle and right-hand positions;

Figure 6 is a development showing the char-- acteristics of the main traverse cam;

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the teristics of the auxiliary cam;

Figure 8 is a diagram very similar to Figure 7, showing adevelopment of the actual cam groove of the cam of Figure 'I;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic conventional drawcharaccal coils and the developed pattern outline of the structure of the built up package.

Figures 9A and 9B show the peculiar formation or shape of the decelerated outer end coils and the accelerated inner end coils respectively in diagrammatic exaggerated'forms.

Figure 90 shows a similar diagram of the coils in the middle portion of the package. a

Figure 10 is a view, in section, of the barrelahaped package.

Referring now to these drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, the frame of the machine indicated generally at 2 supports a rotatable cylinder 3 preferably of Bakelite or the like, on which the thread is wound. The main traverse cam l having a traverse of about 1 /2 inches, is carried by shaft 5, the drivefor the cylinder 3 and shaft 5 being geared so that they rotate at definite The groove of cam (is a smooth, uniform curve. Carried in suitable bearings in the framework of the machine is a fixed guide rod 8 and surrounding this rod and movable on it as an axial bearing is the traverse tube 1, this tube 1 being provided with a pin 16 and whirl 1b which engages the groove of cam 4, whereby there is imparted to the traverse tube 1, by cam I, a uniform reciprocatory motion. Secured to the right-hand end of traverse tube 1 is a crosshead 8 which slides on the machined surface 3 of the fixed frame element III.

The upper end of cross-head 8 carries a stud II in which engages a screw l2 and oscillatably Ell and slidably engaged by this screw is the thread guide lever l3 carrying a thread guide It at its lower end. The upper end of lever 13 engages with'the screw l2 through the medium of a slot ing package tangentially without putting any bends in the thread. Both of these features are very desirable.

The lower portion of cross-head 8 is oifset, as

- at, 8:1. and pivoted on the lower end of offset 8a is a second or actuating lever [8. The oifset carries a hollow stud l1 and pivot screw l8 providing a pivot for the lever IS. The upper end of lever I6 is pivoted to thread guide lever I3.

l4 successive traverse strokes which continually vary in length, these traverse strokes being alternately accelerated and decelerated; as the thread guide moves from either end of the package toward the middle it is progressively accelerated, while as it moves from the middle toward either end it is progressively decelerated.

This auxiliary cam- 25 is a cylindrical cam and rotates on a shaft 26 substantially parallel to shaft 5; shaft 26 is carried by a supporting bracket 21. The cam 25 is provided with an extemal gear 28, the teeth of this gear being engaged by a pawl 23 operated by an eccentric 30 fixed to the main shaft 5 of the traverse cam. One revolution of the traverse cam shaft 5 causes the auxiliary cam 25, through the medium of the pawl 23, to be moved atleast one notch.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the auxiliary cam 25 is attached to gear 28 which has seventy-six teeth so that whenthe main traverse cam completes seventy-six revolutions, the auxiliary, cam completes one revolution. This gear-ratio, of course, may be changed, as desired. a

Cam 25 may be an edge cam, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, or its equivalent, a grooved cam, as in Figure 8. The cam groove or cam edge 3| of cam 25 engages and actuates a whirl or roller 32. Whirl 32 is mounted on a pin 33 carried by a follower block 35. This follower block is slidably mounted on a pair of guide' rods 35 carried by bracket 21. The lower end of lever I5 is slotted, as at 35 and this slot is slidably engaged over pin 83 and held by nut 31. Whirl 32 is held in operative engagement with cam edge 3| by a spring 38, Figure 1,- attached at one end to the block 34 and at the other end to stud 33 on the frame.

Figure 6 is a development showing the characteristics of the main traverse cam 4, which is a uniform cam having a traverse of 1 /2 inches. Being a uniform cam, its development is in straight lines, as shown;

The auxiliary cam 25 is a cylindrical, double acting, trilobate cam, with circular base curves. One section of the cam, during a part of a revolution, moves the follower block 34 and lower end of lever 15 in a substantially outward direction, and the other section, during the rest of the revolution, moves the follower back in a reverse or substantially inward direction. Each of the cam sections is composed of a group of three lobes, each lobe possessing different characteristics from either of the other lobes in the same group: the second group of three lobes functions in the same order as the'first group of three lobes, causing the follower 34, lever l6, thread guide lever l3 and thread guide It, to be successively actuated by six different movements during six different intervals of time, the thread guide distributing astrand of yarn on winding cylinder 3 during each complete reciprocation of the yarn guide.

Each individual lobe, or short groove corresponding thereto, is in the form of an accelerateddecelerated cam, the end most accelerated of each lobe or groove joining the end most decelerated in the next lobe or groove, making a group of Due to the cooperation and interaction of the. interconnected, slotted levers l3 and I8 recipaccelerated-decelerated shortgrooves or lobes to form one generally accelerated-decelerated cam groove.

'I'hecharacteristics of cam-2t are shown in the development, Figures '7 and 8, and certain values thereof are expressed in the following table: e

Angle of Length of groove groove Traverse Degrees Inches First lobe 58 1 M 62 1 940 60 1 M's 5B 1 9 62 1 Me 60 1 H l I Similar values are shown in Figure B, which is a development of an actual groove in a cylindrical cam, where a groove is used instead of an actuating edge II.

Thesuccesslve lobes or grooves blend into one another so as to form a continuous groove.

. Referring to the above table, it will be noted that the values of the first three lobes, formin the first group, are the same as the values o I the second three lobes, forming the second group. No lobe in one group has the same characteristics as any other lobe in that group. Similar lobes in the respective groups are diametrically opposite one another.

Operation In the following description and throughout this specification, all quantitative data, as to number of revolutions, length of traverse and the like, are purely illustrative and apply to the illustrated embodiment of the invention. The invention is not to be restricted to the values given, but may be carried out in other ways, failerse cam I, of the successively different traverse i and angular movements applied to the lower end rocated back and forth by the main traverse cam 4, and the successively diflerent movements applied to the lower end of lever I! by auxiliary,

cam 25, the fastest movement of the thread guide occurs when the levers l8 and ii are vertical, as in full lines in Figure 4. As the traverse mechanism moves to the left, as in Figure 3, or to the right, as in Figure 5, the thread guide is progressively decelerated, while as itreturns toward the middle from either end, the thread guide is progressively accelerated.

Thethread guide is therefore alternately accelerated and decelerated, as follows:

Progressively accelerated from one end to middle of package.

Progressively decelerated end.

Progressively accelerated from other end back to middle.- 1

from middle to other Progressively decelerated from middle back to first end. 1 I

Accompanying the foregoing changes of speed of the thread guide is the described continual and progressive change in the traverse stroke,

and the result is a package as shown in Figure 10, substantially barrel shaped, smoothly convex from end to end, with maximum thickness in the middle and no beveled or shouldered 'enda.

Assuming that; as illustrated, the complete cycle is composed of seventy-six strokes, there are thirty-eight pairs of strokes of difl'erent lengths, two strokes of a given length arepro duced in the cycle of seventy-six strokes, all seventy-six strokes are in different positions, and only one stroke in a given position is produced in the cycle of seventy-six strokes.

The auxiliary cam also provides for the com pound levers and thread guide to be positioned during relatively longer periods of time when winding at the middle portion of a package and to be positioned during relatively shorter periods of time when winding at the ends of a package.

So when the. winding coils or helices are decelerated the most, due to the swing of the levers. the said levers stay in such position the shortest time periods due to the accelerated action of the auxiliary cam, and conversely, when the winding coils or helices are-accelerated the most, due to the swing of the levers, the said levers stay in such position the longest time periods, due to of lever II by the successively different lobes of the auxiliary cam, and to the interaction of the interconnected, slotted levers II and I8. The resultant lay of the yarn is shown in the development of Figure 9, showing the lay of the yarn for seventy-six revolutions, of the traverse mecha nism, and for the corresponding singlerevolution of the auxiliary cam 28. The length of the package is the distance between the lines 45-". that is the lengthof the body of yarn wound on the core, as shown in Figure 6. Successive traverse strokes of the thread guide vary successive y.

the center. v

the decelerated actionoi the auxiliary cam.

The further away either side of a central vertical position that the guide is swung by both of the levers, moves the guide at .a progressively decelerated rate of motion. The auxiliary cam, regardless of its developed motion, causes a displacement, or a series of displacements of the positions of the compound levers, and the different positions of the compound levers produce diil'erent. lengths of movement of thread guide, while the, design of the auxiliary cam determines the timing of the levers and guide in their various positions. Thus the guide is given its swinging traversing movement by the kind of a motion produced-at the delivery end of-the compound levers,

reclprocated bythe uniform traverse cam, and the position of-the levers is progressivelychanged to give varying lengths of traverseto the guide. and, also to give prescribed intervals of time for 76 the guide in its various positions. a

Thus compound levers plus a uniform traverse cam produce the traverse movement: an auxiliary cam alters and displaces the traverse movement, and also controls the time allotted to each displaced traverse.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in some detail, .it should be understood that the invention is not limited to this exact disclosure, but may be carried out by other mechanism as defined within the scope of the following claims. I

what we claim is:

l. The method of winding thread or yarn to produce a barrel shaped package, comprising the steps of laterally traversing and feeding the yarn onto a rotating core, continually varying the length of the lateral traverse stroke as the yarn is fed to the core, and accelerating the lateral feed of the yarn as it winds toward the middle of the package, and decelerating the lateral feed as it winds toward the ends of the package.

2. In a winding machine, the combination of Y traverse mechanism, movable back and forth at a substantially uniform rate, a thread guide carried thereby, an auxiliary cam connected to. operate in timed relation with the traverse mechanism, a lever pivotally connected to the thread guide and operatively engaged with the auxiliary oelerated movement in its travel toward either end of the package.

3. In a winding machine, the combination of traverse mechanism, a thread guide carried by the traverse mechanism and an auxiliary cam serving to control the extent of the periodic changes in the position of the traverse mechanism to give lesser degrees of'change as the guide moves successively faster in its travel toward the 'middleof the package, and to give greater degrees, of change as the thread guide moves successively slower in its travel toward the ends of the package. 1 c 1 4. In a winding machine, the combination of traverse mechanism, a thread guide carried by the traverse mechanism, and auxiliary means operating in timed relation with the traverse mechanism and operatively connected to the thread guide, and serving to control thechanges in the position of the traverse mechanism, the

thread guide moving-successively faster as it travels toward the middle of the-package, and

assaaoc cam, said cam cooperating with said lever whereby different accelerated and decelerated movements of the thread guide are ro c d by the traverse mechanism when it is moving the guide,

toward-the middle of the package, and when it is moving the guide toward either end oi the package, respectively.

'1. In a winding machine, the combination of traverse mechanism, a pair of levers, each pivoted to the traverse mechanism, a thread guide carried by the first of said levers, the second of said levers being pivotally connected to the first lever, and an auxiliary cam,-operaied in timed relation with the traverse mechanism, and on eratively connected with said second lever, said parts'cooperating to produce a barrel shaped package, convex from end to end.

8. In a winding machine, the combination ofv traverse mechanism, a pair of pivotally connected levers each pivoted to the traverse mechanism, a thread guide carried by the first of said levers. and an auxiliary cam, operated in timed relation with the traverse mechanism and oi)- eratively connected to said second lever, said parts cooperating to produce a barrel shaped package, convex from end to end.

a In a winding machine, the combination of traverse mechanism operating. back and forth at a substantially uniform rate, a first lever piv-- oted at one end to the traverse mechanism, a thread guide at the other end of said first lever,

a secondlever, pivoted to the traverse mechanism and also pivoted at one end to said first lever, between the thread guideand the pivot of the first lever, and an auxiliary cam, operating in timed relation with the traverse mechanism, operatively connected with the other end of said second lever, said parts cooperating to produce a barrel-shaped package. convex from end to end.

10. In a 'winding' machine, traverse mechanism movabl back and forth at a substantially uniform rate, a lever pivoted at one end to the traverse mechanism by a slottedpivotal connecand also pivotedto the first lever intermediatev the ends thereof, and an auxiliary cam, operating in timed relation .with the traverse mechanism, said second lever being operatively connected to the auxiliary cam' by a slotted pivotal I connection, said auxiliary cam having a plurality of lobes of successively different charactersuccessively slower as it travels towardthe en istics, said parts cooperating toproduce a barof the ackage.

s. In a winding machine,"the combination of to traverse mechanism movable back'iand forth at a substantially'uniform rate, a thread guide carried by the traverse mechanism, an auxiliary cam connected to the traverse mechanism and opersting in timed relation therewith, means connecting said auxiliary cam with the thread. guide, said auxiliary cam having lobes which el-shaped mirageii. In a winding machine, the combination of traverse mechanism operating back and forth at a substantially uniform rate. a cross-head carried by said traverse mechanism, a first lever pivoted at one end to said cross-head by a pivotal slot therein, a thread guide at the other end of said first lever, a second lever pivoted to said xclOSS-hfitld and pivoted at one end to the first v lever, intermediate its ends, and an auxiliary cam, operating in timed relation with the traverse mechanism, the other end of said second lever being operatively connected with said auxiliary cam by means'including a slot in the end of the second lever, sa d parts cooperating to produce a barrel-shaped package, convex from end to end.

i2. In a winding machine, traverse mechanism guide and operatively engaged with the auxiliary movable back and forth at a substantially uniform rate, a pair of compound levers, pivoted to the traverse mechanism and to each other, a thread guide carried by one of said levers, and an auxiliary cam operating in timed relation with said traverse mechanism,-and operativeiy connected to the other of said levers, said auxiliary cam being provided with a plurality of lobes of successively. different characteristics to control the changesin the position of the traverse mechanis'm, said traverse mechanism moving to accelerate the movement of the thread guide as it 4 moves toward the middle of the package and to decelerate its movement as it moves from the;

. nately accelerate and decelerate the movement of the thread guide.

14. In a winding machine, traverse mechanism, operated at a substantially uniform rate, a thread guide carried thereby, an auxiliary cylindrical rotatable cam, operated in timed relationwith the traverse mechanism, means operatively connecting the auxiliary cam to the thread guide, said auxiliary cam having a plurality of lobes,

16. In a winding machine, traverse mechanism, I

' operated at a substantially uniform rate, levers mechanism moving to alternately-accelerate and each of which has a traverse and an angular length differentfrom its adjacent lobe, to control the changes in the position of the traverse mechanism, said traverse mechanism moving to alternately accelerate and decelerate the movement of the thread guide. I

15. In a winding machine, traverse mechanism, operated at a substantially uniform rate, levers pivotally carried by the traverse mechanism, a

' thread guidecarried by one of said levers, an

auxiliary cylindrical rotatable cam, operated in timed relation with the traverse mechanism, means operatively connecting the other of said levers with said auxiliary cam,. said auxiliary cam having a plurality of lobes, each of which has a traverse and an angular length different from its adjacent lobe to control the changes in the position of the traverse mechanism, said traverse mechanism moving to alternately accelerate and decelerate the movement of the thread.

guide.

pivotally carried by said traverse mechanism,-

one of said levers carrying a thread guide at one end and having its pivot at the other end, the other of said levers being pivoted to the .first lever intermediate the ends of the first lever, an auxiliary cam operated in timed. relation with the traverse mechanism, said auxiliary cam having a'plurality o'f lobes, each of which has a traverse and an angular length different from its adjacent lobe to control the changes in the position of the traverse mechanism, said traverse decelerate the movement of the. thread guide.

1'7. Ina winding machine, traverse mechanism operated at a substantially uniform rate, levers pivotally connected to the traverse mechanism, a thread guide carried by the first of said levers, the

second of said levers being pivoted to the first lever intermediate its ends, an auxiliary cam, operated in timed relation with the traverse mechanism, having lobes of successively different characteristics, means'operatively connect: ing the auxiliary cam andsaid'second lever, each of said levers including a slotted pivotal connection as a part thereof, said cam operating through said levers to control the changes in the position of the traverse. mechanism, said traverse mechanism moving to vary the length of successive strokes of the thread guide and alternately to accelerate and decelerate the movement of the thread guide.

18. In a winding machine, traverse mechanism operated. at a substantially uniform rate,.

a cross-head carried thereby,- a'lever pivoted at one end to said cross-head by a pivotal slot con-- nection, a thread guide at the other end of said 7 lever, a cylindrical auxiliary cam having a plu I rality of lobes,- each lobe having characteristics difierent from an adjacentlobe, a second lever,

pivoted to the traverse mechanism, and to the first lever, intermediate the ends thereof, and means, including a pivotal slot connection, operatively connecting the secondlever and said auxiliary cam, said cam operating through said levers to control the changes in the position of the traverse mechanism, saidtraverse mechanism moving to vary the length of successive strokes. of the thread guide and also to alternately accel erate and'decelerate the movement, of the thread guide, to produce a barrel-shaped package,

-. ALFRED W. AR'I'EBTON.

WILLIAM W. MCCONN'ELL. 

